The
Yuvan-Selvaraghavan team (the latter only as scriptwriter
this time) has been a winning combination every time
they have come together. Success is one of the hardest
things to replicate and this time the bar has fallen
a bit. This is not to say that Yaaradi Nee Mohini is
a bad album, just that it fails to meet the usual standards
of a Yuvan-Selvaraghavan combo. The focus is apparently
on melody and there seems to be a conscious effort to
make songs that blend into the

narrative,
perhaps the songs will come into their own when one sees the
visuals. The numbers don’t seem to call for large sets
and back up dancers.

Engeyo paartha mayakkam - Udit Narayan

Slow and mellow may be the best words to describe this song.
More like a poem than a song, tweaked a bit to fit into the
framework of a tune. The graph holds steady - from its opening
to the close of the song’s 4 minute duration. Udit Narayan
seems comfortable, soft romantic numbers being familiar ground
to him. His Tamil diction has grown in leaps and bounds, though
there are still areas that could do with improvement. Easy
on the ears, smooth and polished, will depend on the choreography
to push it to the ‘special’ status.

Oh
Baby - Haricharan, Naveen, Andre

The opening Spanish style guitar and beats are infectious
and will get your feet tapping even the first time
you hear the song. The tempo is maintained consistently
throughout with interesting instrumental interludes.
The singers have done their job well, especially the
female voice which has been given a different feel.
The ending notes are a delight and make you linger
on for a few seconds. A composition that rides on
rhythm.

Oru
Naalukkul - Karthik, Ritta

A 80s style melody intelligently mixed with trendy
beats and orchestration to suit today’s tastes.
Basically a melody, the tempo is lively and hummable.
Nothing else to write about.

Nenjai kasaki - Suchithra, Udit Narayan

Maybe the only song in the album that hasn’t
attempted melody, this one cannot be called a kuthu
because its tempo is only around half that of normal
Tamil cinema kuthu songs. The beats eventually get
to you if you are patient enough for a few hearings.
Suchithra lends a typical raunchy flavor through her
rendition. The extended violin at the end is also
something out of the usual. And, don’t be confused
by the first minute - it is indeed a song.

Venmegham
ponnaga – Hariharan

This one is vintage 80s stuff in all aspects; even the
lyrics are reminiscent of the period. A simple tune,
no frills, relying mostly on Hariharans’s mastery
over melody to carry it through, the song will put you
in a contemplative mood. Will suit you if you have had
a bad Valentine’s day. High on feelings.

Too early to give an outright verdict. This is certainly the
kind of album that can be judged only after the movie releases.
Yuvan has certainly worked creatively with the score to fit
the parameters of the plot. Having said that, the fact remains
that none of the five songs fully captivate us - not something
we expect of Yuvan. To use the word ‘average’
would be harsh and to say ‘great’ would be generous:
this sums up the music for Yaaradi Nee Mohini.